So I’ve developed a mysterious knee pain while cycling during the last few weeks (about 3, to be precise). I had another fitting (my third in as many years) to confirm everything was good. I do not run anymore.
The pain is very localized on the superior aspect of the head of my fibula on BOTH legs. For reference, this is the bony portrusion that, on me, is about 2" below the back of my knee on the lateral side. When you bend your knee, most people see a pronounced tendon that attaches there.
Anyway, any recommendations or suggestions for treatment? I’ve confirmed that my saddle height is acceptable, and I’ve even moved it to the low end of the acceptable range. My cleat placement has not changed and I use Speedplay pedals.
If I take a few days off the pain goes away, but it slowly returns upon my return to training. After a point, it does not seem to get any worse. For context, I feel it when I lift my leg, as if I were stepping up onto a curb, and when I initiate movement up onto a curb. It is also painful when I apply direct pressure.
I believe part of your hamstrings attach here. I have zero flexibility issues in my hamstrings and lower back (I can place my palms flat on the floor when bending at the waist).
I have had occasional problems with this, usually when I put my weight on my right leg at an odd angle. Any problems like this (and in other areas) tend to happen more when I am doing activities OTHER than running or biking…like raking leaves. Any dramatic changes in distance, intensity, or even doing a lot of low-rpm work on the bike tends to do this. I am not a doctor, but it sorta sounds like an inflammation of the tendon or attachment. Give us a little more info on your recent training regimen for reference.
Your thoughts make sense (increased riding and low rpm work), as I’ve been doing more of than usual. Add that to the fact that I have been lifting weights all winter and I believe my legs are significantly stronger. Perhaps it’s the case that my tendons need to catch up? However, to my credit I have been riding fairly consistently all winter (minimum 3 days per week) and building up fairly slowly, so it’s not like I started training off the couch or anything.
Not a DR, PT or Fitter…but I slept in a Holiday Inn…once.
Maybe I’m missing your description but isn’t that the same place that ITBS shows up?
From an Article:
“The Noble compression test is often positive in patients with ITBFS. This test is performed with the patient supine. The thumb of the examiner is placed over the lateral femoral condyle, and active knee flexion-extension is performed. Maximal pain will be at 30 degrees of knee flexion.”
The lifting the leg up and “direct pressure” causing pain, assuming I’m in the right location, sounds like what I had. I also have very flexible hamstrings, well for a triathlete.
I know I suffered from ITBS, diagnosed by PT, for several months thinking the soul demon was running. Wasn’t until I adjusted my seat height that it went away. If memory serves it was up and back. but not near 100% sure about that.
Nope. I’ve had ITBS problems for years. This is something entirely different. The IT pain one usually gets is higher up - pretty much lateral from the center of the kneecap. Mine is about 2" below right on the proximal head of the fibula.
This is a response I posted in a previous thread when someone else was saying they were having similar knee pain in a similar spot, just running not cycling- Instead of retyping, or paraphrasing, here is the link
it definetly sounds like a tendonitis in what is probably your popliteal tendon. in that space behind your knee, your hamstrings and your calves connect, and by the description of your pain and symptoms, it sounds simply like a tendonitis. my suggestion would be to take about a week off, ice it, take some ibuprofen. if it continues to persist, see your doctor.
note: i’m not a dr. or a pt (i hope to be very soon tho), but i’m in the midst of tons of exercise sci/injury/anatomy courses (so basically i like to pretend i know what i’m talking about)
I am having some tendonitis and I would like to go see a doctor, PT or someone. Who is the right type of person to help with this? I don’t know any doctors and I am worried that if just pick one out of the phonebook, I’ll end up with someone who doesn’t work with athletes and merely says to stop biking and running until the (knee) tendonitis goes away.
definetly go see a doc first. you could go see a PT, but you will run into either of two situations: 1)they wont treat you w/o a prescription from a doc. or 2) they’ll treat you, but your insurance will more than likely not cover it and you’ll be forced to pay out of pocket (which can get very expensive ie:2-300$ or more/treatment) so the best suggestion would be to go see a doc. an orthopaedic doc is what you’re looking for,they generally deal w/ sports medicine type injuries most frequently. w/ finding good doc’s in my areas, i’ve always had the best luck w/ team doctors. if you live in a town with a university, find out (from the website, or wherever) who their team physician is, he’s usually the best guy in town. otherwise, find out who your running/tri friends are using and get some names from them. on another note, if the doc does tell you to stop running (i’m not talking about for a week or two, but forever), go find another one, that’s a good sign that your doc either doesn’t know what he’s talking about, or doesn’t have your interest/desires/wants in mind.
I’m having very similar problems to the one jhendric has described. I’ve read your post you give a link to, and I remembered the partially ruptured Achilles injury I had two years ago on the same leg that’s giving me the most trouble now. I’ve seen an orthopedic & had a cortisone shot, which gave temporary relief, but I still want to get to the root of the problem & treat the cause, not the symptoms. (He currently thinks it’s a problem/tear? in the lateral cartilage…haven’t done an MRI yet, waiting until after IM AZ). My question is: how do you treat/test for the problems you list (i.e. tight psoas, tight ankles) in your post?
We use a functional movement screen comprised of seven tests which categorize and rank your functional movement patterns. This test allows us to identify any biomechanical strengths and weaknesses within your movements whichin turn helps us create a program designed to strengthen those weaknesses, trying to fix any imbalances found.
Sounds like your fibular torsion in out of whack (read alignment). This happens to me. The pain is at the fibular head. My PT (who specializes in biomechanics) gave me a way to correct it.